International Women’s Day 2023
DigitALL - Innovation and technology for gender equality

The United Nations theme for the observance of IWD 2023 is " DigitALL - Innovation and technology for gender equality”. This theme is aligned with the priority theme for the 67th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW-67), “Innovation and technological change, and education in the digital age for achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls”.
This year’s IWD theme recognizes and celebrates the women and girls who are championing the advancement of transformative technology and digital education.
Digital transformation is evolving at an exponential pace and is impacting entire systems of agri-food production, management and governance. Digital agriculture has the potential to play a significant role in achieving global food security and nutrition, reducing poverty, and improving livelihoods especially in rural areas, by offering various value propositions. These technologies can also support gender equality by addressing the various constraints undermining women’s participation in agri-food value chains and by providing new means and channels for women’s socio-economic empowerment.
The Food and Agriculture Organization, the International Fund for Agricultural Development and the World Food Programme will host an event that will discuss the impact of the digital gender gap on widening economic and social inequalities, while acknowledging the role that bold, transformative actions, inclusive technologies, and accessible education can play in accelerating gender equality in agri-food systems and creating new opportunities to benefit women and men equally. The event will also present key findings on the current status of rural women in agri-food systems, highlighting how innovation and digitization can and are advancing gender equality, and offering policy recommendations to accelerate progress.
On this occasion, the three agencies will pay a tribute to women and girls who are championing the advancement of transformative technology and digital education, highlighting their achievements and calling on policy- and decision-makers to assure that women’s voices are adequately heard, and policies foster gender equality and rural women’s empowerment for current and future generations.
News

Gender equality and women's empowerment
International Women’s Day 2023: Bridging the digital gender divide is essential for unleashing women’s potential in rural areas, say UN food and agriculture agencies
FAO-IFAD-WFP push to enhance rural women and girls’ digital capabilities and tackle the barriers they face to access technology to be equal contributors to our agrifood systems.
Success stories

Innovative and labour-saving technologies
Smartphones are boosting gender equality in Georgia and beyond
Women smallholder farmers are leveraging technology and innovation as new agricultural tool

Rural advisory services
Knowledge, innovation and digitalization can transform agriculture in Uzbekistan
Inclusive policy and technology uptake can help meet the needs of women,
youth, and marginalized groups, which is central to FAO's mandate.

Innovative and labour-saving technologies
Digital education for women’s empowerment
Women are a key to the transformation of agrifood systems worldwide and to realizing the aspirations set out in the Sustainable Development Goals.
MEDIA
Mr. QU Dongyu, Director-General, FAO - Video statement at the RBA event for International Women's Day 2023
IWD 2023
How smartphones have become a new agricultural tool for women smallholder farmers
Wednesday, 8 March 2023 10:00 to 12:00 CET
DigitALL - Innovation and technology for gender equality: Leveraging the transformative power of inclusive digitalization and innovation for rural women and girls
Worldwide Events
WEDNESDAY, 8 MARCH 14:00-15:30 CET
FAO Liaison Office in Brussels and FAO Regional Office for Africa
DigitALL: Innovation and Technology for Gender Equality
Celebration of International Women's Day 2023 in Brussels with FAO Africa
THURSDAY 9 MARCH 11:00 CET+1
FAO Regional Office for Near East and North Africa
Innovation and Digitalization for Gender Equality: Experiences from the agrifood sector in the Near East and North Africa
(The webinar will be held in English, Arabic and French)
WATCH RECORDING
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